Schroeder in Wales for intensive course in English

6th December 2005, 0 comments

6 December 2005, BERLIN - Gerhard Schroeder, who spoke a smattering of English in private during seven years as chancellor but avoided speaking it in public, is on an intensive English course in Wales, it emerged Tuesday.

6 December 2005

BERLIN - Gerhard Schroeder, who spoke a smattering of English in private during seven years as chancellor but avoided speaking it in public, is on an intensive English course in Wales, it emerged Tuesday.

Schroeder and his German police bodyguards had turned up several times in the past few days in The Dragon, a pub just down the road from the school, close to the English border, publican Robert Williams confirmed by phone.

The school, which occupies an elegant 18th century country house, offers one-on-one training for top businessmen and promises fast results.

Schroeder is equipping himself for a post-politics career as an executive and lobbyist for Ringier, the Swiss-based company with newspapers in several eastern European nations.

As chancellor, Schroeder was often heard to say it was a pity he could not speak better English. He could chat in basic English with foreign visitors to Berlin, but when affairs of state had to be dealt with, he almost always called in his staff interpreter.